Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus)

For a species of minnow, the common shiner is uncommonly large. While the combo of a big head and big mouth may not sound flattering, this silvery North American fish has guts. When not lolling in the open waters of clear rivers or lakes, it ventures to the surface, risking the attack of the occasional kingfisher for a taste of haute cuisine: terrestrial insects. The most common things about a common shiner are its distribution and abundance in North America and its place in the bait bucket.